Hello! My name is Harrah and I am a graduate student working toward my PhD in Biomedical Engineering, but I am a very Distracted Engineer. I am an active pro-craft-inator and frequently use painting, upcycling, and other crafting outlets as my break from intense lab work.

My painting journey started when I broke my desk chair (oops) and needed a new chair. I found an old, dull wooden chair and decided I could easily brighten it up with a bit of paint. One chair quickly turned into two, then three, then a table, then a cabinet, and my original bit of paint quickly turned into many tubs of paint in every color I could find. I strive to create colorful pieces that will inspire optimism and induce smiles wherever they go.

I am an entirely self-taught artist and will often try out new designs and techniques. Every piece I make is unique. I use a range of colors, patterns, and layers of detail to create eccentric, whimsical designs. Despite variations in color and patterns, there is one consistent element in my pieces - polka dots - because I think they are wonderfully fun!

I love taking ordinary, mundane pieces and turning them into whimsical works. I have painted some funky pieces including antique milk jugs, old windows, mirrors, and a guitar, but I spend most of my time painting chairs, small tables, signs, canvases, and ornaments. My chairs are usually a big hit because people are not used to seeing such vibrant designs on furniture. I also really enjoy painting signs. I think people enjoy my signs because they don’t just come with bright colors, but also a positive message. My work is often a fun talking piece and can brighten up any space – kids’ rooms, office space, really anywhere.

I am really just starting my art venture but I look forward to learning and growing it in the near future. I am excited to be part of Marketspace Vendor Events so I can showcase my work at new venues.

Hello! My name is Jenna Lazar and I am the co-owner of AfterRain. My husband, Bobby, is the other half of the equation! AfterRain is a small Asbury Park, NJ photography and printing company. We refer to our craft as Functional Art™. We decorate items that you can use most days, if not everyday, with photography and graphic designs. I am the photographer while Bobby is the maker. We first began our craft when we wanted an outlet for my photography that wasn’t paper based. We both come from a family of entrepreneurs so we had a lot of guidance and support.

AfterRain creates items such as coasters, cutting boards, flasks, bottle openers, hot plates, passport cases, and other functional items. Our top sellers are our coasters. They are all mix and match and super fun! We have photographic scenes from all over the Jersey Shore. The process we use is unique in the sense that all of the images are absorbed into the substrates. We do not use stickers, decals, or glazes.

Our goal for our future business is to keep growing and getting to know our community. We would love to host a beach clean up in the near future! This is our first event with Marketspace Vendor Events and we are very excited to partner with them at Crafts and Drafts at Beach Haus Brewery this spring. Festivals and events are a huge part of our business. We love getting to meet new customers and business owners.

Despite the current age of fast technology, there’s something special and nostalgic about putting a pen to paper. An ode to our ancestors or a sophisticated reenactment of one of our earliest learned skills, the feel of turning the pages and satisfaction of hand-written print becomes an accomplishment - whether compiling a list or composing a work of art.

We all use memo and note apps on our personal devices to keep daily to-do lists, shopping lists, and goal trackers. But physically writing out a list or crossing out met achievements feels more productive.

Studies have shown that writing things down best commits them to memory. The same can’t be said for typing on a keyboard or tapping letters on a touchscreen. These are just some of the reasons I was drawn to the art of lathe-turned pens.

To keep that feeling of sophistication and accomplishment in every day tasks, a quality writing instrument rather than a pen borrowed from the bank is essential. A strong pen that smoothly adorns paper with high quality ink encourages one to write more, to write better, to write smarter. A beautifully made writing instrument inspires the bearer to want more often. It encourages the writer to raise their standards and set higher goals.

Whether it's a tasteful natural wood pen or ostentatiously colored wood and acrylic pen with eye-catching accents, simple ballpoint or elegant fountain pen, I find joy in restoring a sense of quality to the recipient’s life. Oak Lane Woodworks strives to craft writing instruments of all styles that are pleasing to the eye, comfortable to the hand, and write as pleasurably as they look.

I’ve always loved making art and I became interested in photography in my teens. My Mother was an artist and, after her death in 2006, I developed an overwhelming need to make things. (I believe it was her final gift to me). I bought tools and set out to make things that inspired me. Eventually my house and grounds became filled with my work and people began telling me, "You have such a unique perspective on things. You have to sell your stuff!" It was then that The Creative Alchemist was born.

My business name reflects my vision of creating something extraordinary from something ordinary whether it’s through the re-purposing of items or combining concepts to create something unique. I love the layering of ideas because I think each layer contributes to the strength of the message. Since I don't have formal training, I have no rules. This leaves me open to unlimited possibilities and has allowed me to develop my own unique style. I utilize scraps and discarded or found items in many of my projects, giving them a new life. This includes wood, metal, spare parts, and paint. I want my art to evoke a feeling in people - whether it be serious or whimsical. I want it to move you, to make you think.

I make an eclectic mix of products. I don’t mass produce any items so my favorite design is always the next one I’m working on. I like to work with reclaimed wood and my current favorites and top sellers are American Flags, Thin Blue Line Flags, and Thin Red Line Flags. They are made from reclaimed tongue and groove oak hardwood flooring and wood lath. Many customers have bought them as gifts for Police Officers and Firefighters. They can also be customized with names, departments, badge numbers, you name it!

Hey there! My name is Alina and I’m the owner-creator behind The Urban Oasis Shop. My product line consists of air plant and succulent urban garden arrangements in minimalist animal planters, shells, and geometric terrariums.

I am a self-proclaimed plant addict (and proud of it). My love of urban gardening began when I started a small 4x4 box garden behind my townhome in hopes of encouraging my kids to eat fresh home-grown veggies. The backyard garden quickly expanded to include a container garden of flowers on my balcony and a hydroponic herb garden in my kitchen. Along with the growth of my outdoor gardens came many new houseplant friends, including my now-favorite succulents and air plants! My plant collection was growing rapidly and I decided to start giving plant arrangements as gifts to friends and family. When I realized the happiness and health benefits that plants bring to people, it sparked the idea for starting my business and The Urban Oasis Shop was born!

I have a passion for plants, interior decorating, and the pursuit of inner peace. I strive to incorporate these elements in the arrangements I make. Working with plants is my art and meditation, which I love sharing with people. I like making tiny tabletop terrarium gardens that can be enjoyed at home or work because they bring a little “oasis” to any space. But customer favorites, by far, are my Succupets. The Urban Oasis Shop Succupets are a collection of animal planters with succulents that bring a whole new level of low-maintenance cuteness to the plant collecting game. The animal planters come in all different sizes and include elephants, dinosaurs, unicorns, hedgehogs and giraffes. Another top-selling item is the air plant jellyfish that I craft using air plants and sea urchin shells. These jellyfish can be hung anywhere and add an interesting plant element to any space.

I’m really excited about The Urban Oasis Shop and the journey that I have embarked upon as a business owner. I hope to continue to grow my business and spread the joy of urban gardening through Pop Up Shops and DIY Workshops. I love working with Marketspace Vendor Events because their events and venues are always fun! The Urban Oasis Shop will be appearing at The Hackettstown Pub Crawl on April 13th, Montclair Brewery on June 15th, and Hackettstown Oktoberfest on September 28th. I am always adding new events to my schedule so be sure to catch me when I’m in town and follow the schedule of events on my website and social media.

Hi! I’m Amy, the jewelry artist/metalsmith creator of .aym., a line of handcrafted sterling silver and copper minimalist jewelry. If you had told me 5 years ago that I’d be making jewelry for a living I would have told you that you were crazy, yet here I am doing just that! My formal education is in the physical sciences, majoring in Physics for my undergrad and Chemistry for my master’s degree. I became interested in making jewelry in 2015 when I accompanied a friend to a bead shop. The beautiful colors and shapes of all the different beads were so inspiring to me, and I realized that I had really been missing a creative outlet in my life. As much as I loved looking at all the beads, I didn’t actually wear much beaded jewelry myself, so I decided to learn some metalsmithing so that I could make the jewelry that I really wanted to wear. What began as a creative outlet quickly turned into an obsession that fueled the creation and growth of .aym. My specialty is simple, dainty, minimalist jewelry pieces. I believe there is much beauty in simplicity and strive to create jewelry that is infinitely wearable.

People are often surprised to find out that my background is in science, not art, but there is actually quite a lot of overlap in the skills required for science research and metalsmithing. In addition to the obvious lab skills such as working with fire and chemicals, both occupations involve quite a lot of tedious repetition and intense attention to detail. Therefore, I believe that my training in the sciences actually has had a lot to do with my success in jewelry making. One of my favorite things about the work I do now is that it makes people happy. When I read a glowing online review or talk to a repeat customer at a show and they tell me how special one of my pieces is to them, it makes my day!

A question that I often get asked is, “where does the name .aym. come from?”. The answer is that it is my name, Amy, done differently. This is appropriate since running a jewelry-making business takes all of the skills that I’ve acquired throughout my life and uses them differently. I intentionally chose a name that was not specific to jewelry since I’m also pretty handy with a sewing machine and aspire to one day expand my brand to include sewn accessories such as hats and scarves. That is, if I can ever catch up on jewelry orders! I always love it when online orders come in, but my very favorite part of running a handmade business is doing handmade craft shows and getting to meet my customers in person. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Marketspace Vendor Events in this. Helping with everything from product photography to making sure vendors have water to stay hydrated during events, Kim and Kevin are warm and welcoming people with a rare combination of business savvy and a heart for handmade artisans. Marketspace is definitely a promoter that I’m proud to say I’m involved with, and this year I’ll be exhibiting at the Hopped Up Scavenger Hunt Hackettstown Pub Crawl in April and at the Winter Village at the Red Mill in November. Hope to see you there!

Hi! We are Minnie and Nishu Singh, the curators of handmade textile collection, 7 Artisan Street.

Before we tell you about 7 Artisan Street’s mission, let us share 3 life-changing facts that will make you think twice about sustainability:

The United States, alone, sends about 21 billion pounds of textile waste to landfills every year. This includes pre-consumer, or unused, fabric.

Plastic bags take anywhere from 15 to 1,000 years to break down. An estimated 1 million birds, 100,000 turtles and countless other sea and land animals die from ingesting plastic.

The U.S. cuts down 14 million trees per year to supply raw material for paper, paper shopping bags, and other paper products.

We are bonded first by the same cause of up-cycling and reducing waste, second as sisters-in-law.

While working in corporate for 13 years, we got a chance to study waste and eco-friendly alternatives. It was during this time that we learned about pre-consumer textile waste. It didn’t sit well with us and we knew we had to initiate change. It seemed almost natural for us to quit our respective jobs, put our creative heads together, and deal with the challenges of a start-up business. A year later, 7 Artisan Street was ready to raise awareness (even in small steps) about pre-consumer textile waste to reduce our carbon footprint. We strongly believe in reusable, repurposed, and recycled handmade products made from pre-consumer textiles that we have saved before they hit the landfill.

We source our fabrics simply and easily, direct from textile or flea markets and manufacturers of raw material. We handpick quality fabrics and other materials like wood, beads, lace, buttons, pallets, and iron frames that have otherwise been deemed unusable. We combine elements of paint, wood etching, embroidery, and embellishment to create unique products that resonate with you, our customer. Our year-round best sellers are fabric bags, scarves, and shopping totes that align with the Zero Waste mission. We are always thinking of new products and often surprise ourselves with what we create.

Our last partnership with Marketspace Vendor Events was our first-ever event! We were not just seen as another vendor with products, but a vendor trying to make a difference via sustainability. The response was so encouraging and many customers had great feedback for new products, many of which we have already incorporated into our product line. Large canvas shopping totes, fabric washable fruit and spice baskets, reusable party favor and bridal bags, and up-cycled backpacks for all ages have made their way into 7 Artisan Street.

Only 15% of the 14.3 million tons of textile waste generated in the U.S. every year gets recycled. If it cannot be reused or recycled, simply refuse.

Hi, all! My name is Jenniffer Pons and I am the hands behind the boho and crystal jewelry designs of Contigo By Yenny!

I am a creative at heart, always finding opportunities to make beautiful things. I'm super inspired by all things fashion as well as the wonderful outdoors. You can see the inspo in all my boho inspired necklaces, bracelets, and earrings!

My journey started with one simple beaded item. A pretty, bejeweled bead strand meant to be worn around the waist. From there I thought "Why not bracelets?" and so on. Now my collection consists of everything from earrings to necklaces and waist chains. My best sellers are hoop and chandelier earrings. My amazing customers love a gorgeous pair of healing crystal earrings that not only look great but carry those good vibes an earthy crystal can bring.

I have so many hopes for my business venture. My main goal right now is to have my pieces sold in boutique stores where my pieces can be touched and best appreciated in-person. I am working toward this goal by starting with my favorite event holders, Marketspace Vendor Events! They are truly THE BEST at putting together amazing events for small business owners like me looking to expand and share their craft with the world. Not only are their vendor events fun for all ages, but they give us a chance to meet other makers, share our experiences, and learn from each other! It has truly been an honor to be able to work with them and I look forward to each and every event I get the chance to be a part of. Contigo By Yenny's journey is just beginning and I cannot wait for my next event with Marketspace Vendor Events at Jersey Girl Brewing on April 6th!

Hi! My name is Kristen and I am the owner/creator of Our Lady of Hodgepodge in Annandale, NJ. I love all things crafty and I create wearable art that may change on a whim. Is “Hodgepodge” starting to make sense now? I want to create pieces that everyone will love, but will resonate with one person. I truly want someone to look at my wares and say “OMG, this was made for me!” I’m a punk, a nerd, a scholar, a (dog)mom, an accountant, a dreamer, and an artist. These are the kindred hearts ‘Our Lady’ hopes to touch and inspire.

So down to the brass tax; what is Our Lady of Hodgepodge (OLoH)? It is a confused mixture of wearable art. My three major sellers are The Long Tassel Statement Scarf, The Hodgepodge Scarf, and Dollhouse Miniature Bookmarks. The Long Tassel Statement Scarves are one-of-a-kind crocheted scarves that use various yarn weights, colors, and techniques. They are finished off with 10-inch-long tassels on both ends of a 60-inch scarf. The Hodgepodge Scarf is a triangle shaped scarf made from fabric remnants, mostly donated from other local crafters, which I then sew together using a darning technique and a sewing machine. After washing the stabilizer away, you are left with one cool art piece to wear how you like. Lastly, Dollhouse Mini Bookmarks are made using a 10-inch piece of chain, or ribbon. On either end are a dollhouse mini coffee cup, a tassel, and a mini book for which I shrink down an actual book cover to size. These are usually popular as gifts and are easily customizable.

I must admit, I initially created OLoH because I had already gifted creations to all of my family members and my husband got tired of them taking up space. My husband’s favorite line at craft shows is: “Buy my wife’s stuff, it takes up too much space.” Once we started doing craft shows, and saw that even strangers liked what I made, we decided that this could be a nice niche for me and something we could do together… other than fishing … which is okay too, I guess?

Finding Marketspace Vendor Events has worked well for us because Kevin and Kim are super helpful and knowledgeable about where my creations will sell best. They gave me a whole new avenue of locations, clientele, and groups of vendors to learn from. I think all vendors will agree that Marketspace isn’t pushy and won’t fit you in somewhere just for profit. They are very open when you have questions or need advice on doing a craft show. I didn’t get to do as many with them as I would have liked in 2018, but 2019 is a whole new year, so here we go!

Our Lady of Hodgepodge will be at this upcoming event!April 6, 2019 - Crafts and Drafts at Jersey Girl Brewing in Hackettstown,, NJ

Hi! My name is Sarah Catherine Maxwell and I am the New Jersey ceramics artist behind Sarah Catherine Art. I have always been interested in art ever since I was a little girl. However, my interest in ceramics did not start until December two years ago. I was chosen for a leave replacement job as a high school ceramics teacher. Since I wanted a job, I took it even though I had never really used clay before. After the job ended in December, I decided to take a Christmas break three-day wheel throwing pottery workshop to get a better understanding of it. That workshop sparked my infatuation with ceramics. For the past two years I have not stopped taking ceramic classes and pursuing different techniques. My business got started because I no longer had room for all of the handmade ceramic pieces in my house. I sell because I need room to make more!

My latest obsession is with raku ceramic firing. The process of making a raku piece is very involved and keeps you engaged the entire time. I especially love that the artist only has so much control over the colors and patterns. Each time the piece comes out of the raku pit, the finish is a surprise.

My goal for my business is to one day be able to fully pay for my art with my art. Marketspace Vendor Events provides me with the opportunities I need to get my art out in the community.

My name is Kim, hence the name of my Annandale, NJ business, “Kimpressions”. I am a freehand lettering artist, making hand-lettered wood home decor signs, bridal shower signs, wedding signs, baby shower signs, hand-lettered menus for restaurants, and custom hand-lettered event signs. I was born and raised in Hunterdon County and have been doing craft-related things for as long as I can remember. When I felt the stress of my full-time job weighing on me, I decided to give myself this creative outlet to help alleviate some of the bad vibes I was bringing home.

I can letter on pretty much any surface, and since I do everything freehand without stencils or printouts, it is completely customizable. Every piece is unique! I especially love lettering on chalkboards because I love the look of white lettering on the black background. I’d have to say hand-lettered Clinton, New Jersey signs are a top-seller for me! I make freehand lettered signs featuring Clinton’s iconic Red Mill and our awesome community loves them!

My goal for Kimpressions is simply to do it as long as it makes me happy. The fact that I get to play a small part in people's new homes, business ventures and major life events brings me such joy! I’ve learned so much from so many interesting people that I’ve met through Marketspace Vendor Events and social media since starting Kimpressions and it reminds me that inspiration is everywhere!

Hi! My name is Sam Matthews and I am the creator behind Art Across Borders, a vintage VW bus mobile art studio in New Jersey.

My life has always been colorful and chaotic like a Jackson Pollock painting. I was raised by divorced parents who are both hard working and creative. I was taught to pursue whatever my passion was and was encouraged from the time I could hold a crayon that what I made mattered. I spent much of my free time drawing, coloring, painting, stamping, anything creative, because many of my immediate family members were artists and supplied me with materials of all kinds. Working hard to make my dreams a reality was a big part of my upbringing.

When I graduated college with my bachelors in fine art, that’s exactly what I intended on doing. The short version of how I came to own my own business is this: I turned my senior art show title and concept into my passion project. Art Across Borders originated as an art exhibition about my travels throughout 4 different countries where I developed my passion for creative outlets, specifically for kids (to read the whole story and see pictures of the show visit the about me at artacrossborders.com). When I realized I would be stateside after graduation, I wanted to take my passion on the road. I was inspired by an organization I interned for (Art Feeds, check them out), and wanted to find a vehicle that would cart around all of my supplies as I mobilized my classes and workshops. We had a VW when I was in high school that tragically burned down and ever since I dreamed of having another one in the family. It was one night that the inspiration struck and I realized I had to seek out my own bus and make my dreams a reality. Something incredible always happens to me when I am pursuing big plans. I am constantly supported by my community of friends and family. As I was searching for the right bus, so many incredible people donated toward my goal. I found Flo, shipped her up to NJ, and have been working on her mechanically while successfully using her as Art Across Borders’ mobile art studio since 2016.

I love encouraging others to tap into their own creativity and encourage everyone to make something different. Folks who don’t have creative jobs often don’t make time for themselves to be creative and experiment with artistic and crafty materials. That’s why I decided the main goal for my workshops is to offer people the time, space, and materials to explore their own creativity. It has been a wild journey of many peaks and valleys but every part of my adventure has lead to another amazing opportunity. I love selling my artwork next to Flo at events and sharing our story with people who come by. I’ve taken on various part time jobs to help support the start of this business but have always kept my dreams first and foremost. I have the pleasure of being a teaching artist at 2 art centers during the week and fill the rest of my time with hosting northern NJ and central NJ art workshops in addition to commissioned work.

The fun thing about having a fine art degree from a liberal arts college is that I was able to experience and learn all different kinds of mediums, adding tools to my creative tool belt. I love mixing mediums and coming up with unique pieces. My favorite thing to make is marbled paper that I later use for cards and prints. My top seller is custom pet portrait ornaments. Customers also really love my paintings of VW buses in different landscapes as well as my mini inspirational paintings. A surprise hit this past year were my adult humor greeting cards and ornaments. I sold out of them at every market I did!

I have a lot of goals for Art Across Borders. A huge goal of mine is to offer free or low cost creative workshops and classes for kids in areas that don’t have many creative outlets. Another is to open a creative co-working space for artists and aspiring artists. I also hope to get Flo’s rust repaired so I can transform her into a photo-booth set up at weddings or the 50th anniversary of Woodstock in August. I am hoping to partner with Marketspace Vendor Events on a Millennial Makers NJ group market in the near future. I loved having my set up at The Marketspace at Westfield holiday market this winter (photo below) and am excited to be a vendor at their unique locations in 2019!

Hi, my name is Jim and my business is Crafty Crafts by Jim. I have been a crafter for a number of years starting with wood-working crafts, then candle making. I had some luck selling my wood and candle art at vendor events but wanted to expand my product line to be more profitable. I started looking into other crafting ideas and began working on wood and wine bottle terrariums. My wood-working history sure came in handy there!

I first started with Christmas items, mounting small ornaments and the glass wine bottle to a wooden base. Then, I found cork lights for the top of the bottles. The best part is that these corks can be removed and recharged using a USB port. Adding this unique light feature to my wine bottle terrariums was a success!

Last year, at Peddlers Village, my wife and I walked into a store that sold succulents and air plants. My wife had the ingenious idea of combining these popular, low maintenance plants with my wine bottle crafts. I have since added them to my product line and have expanded on them by creating beer bottle crafts too. My biggest challenge is cutting through the glass bottles but with the proper tools it can be done!

It is hard to decide which is my favorite item to make, but I would say the beer mobiles with decals or the fairy gardens with lights and gnomes. As far as best sellers go, it all depends on the event. I find that my light-up wine bottle terrariums are most popular around Christmas, and my air plants are most popular in the spring and summer.

My major goal is to sell my items in a store of handmade goods, and this was once a near reality after connecting with other vendors at an in-person event. The store was to be located in Washington, NJ, but relocated to Kansas. Since shipping glass is unreliable, I have decided to put that dream on hold until a more local option becomes available to me.

As far as Marketspace Vendor Events, I like where the events are being held - at breweries, how bad can that be?! I am looking forward to a long lasting relationship with them as they have events throughout the year.

Hi, my name is Carlos Serrano and I am the founder and owner of New Jersey's fastest growing food truck business, Empanada Guy. I started my journey 16 years ago out of my garage selling empanadas wholesale to restaurants.

We are now famous for our empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, and other Latin cuisine. After the first bite you won’t be able to stop!

In June of 2012, we rolled out our first food truck and, through the help of social media, we have connected with customers and created a loyal fan base. With hard work and interaction with our followers, Empanada Guy has expanded to 9 food trucks, 1 restaurant, and 2 mall locations. Even still, the company continues to grow!

Empanada Guy has popped-up with Marketspace Vendor Events at these locations:Crafts and Drafts at Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington, NJCrafts and Drafts at River Horse Brewing Company in Ewing, NJ

Hi everybody! I'm Andrea, sole proprietor of Hachi House, LLC. I started my small experiment in 2010 after a fibroid diagnosis. In looking for prescription pain killer alternatives to help with cramps, I turned to the power of plants and their essential oils. In 2012 I went all in and my New Jersey based body care line, Hachi House, was born! Not only was I able to put myself in a position of constant learning, but also able to fuel my creativity. I started with 4 lip balm varieties, aromatherapy oils, and body butters. Since then my line has grown to include other small batch products such as soap, scrubs, soaks, beard products and my very own nail polish line which I hope to launch this summer!

I do it all from Research & Development and making all products by hand as I Netflix binge on the weekends to designing, marketing, and packaging. Did I mention I work 9-5 in the TV industry and adjunct at a local university on top of that?! I am exhausted, y’all, but sooooo very fulfilled. I really have a strong vision for what I want Hachi House to become and I am keeping my eyes on the prize all while hopefully making clean products that people love! The soap making process has truly become my favorite. I get super excited when I talk to customers about my creations and how they may benefit from them. One thing I must say is that you will definitely have a one of a kind experience when you make a pit stop at the Hachi House booth.

I get the most joy from being around people. When I linked up with Marketspace Vendor Events, it really took me. I've teamed up with fellow crafter Verushka from Zentuary -all natural deodorant- and my experience at every Marketspace Vendor Events pop-up has been exceptional! As a member of their vendor network, I look forward to receiving email alerts about newly added events. They are wonderfully curated and feature talented vendors, many of whom I have kept in contact with after my very first Marketspace craft market!

I look forward to chatting with you as Hachi House joins the March 31 , 2018 Crafts and Drafts at Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington, New Jersey. See you there!

Hachi House will be at these upcoming events!March 31, 2018 - Crafts and Drafts at Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington, NJApril 29, 2018 - Crafts and Drafts at River Horse Brewing Company in Ewing, NJMay 20, 2018 - The Marketspace at Summit in Summit, NJ

My name is Diana and I am a candle addict. I cannot even count the amount of times my mother yelled at me for burning candles, staining ceilings and curtains with black smoke and soot. I thought to myself, “…black smoke? That definitely can’t be good for your lungs!” I started doing research and with a lot of patience and practice, Brighter Days was born. I am a one woman show, but I have to give my husband credit for letting me turn our home into a candle factory. I pick the candle names, design the labels, and mix the fragrances. I do it all! Having my own business has always been my dream.

Brighter Days Co. candles are handmade and poured locally in New Jersey with 100% natural soy wax and fragrance oils, free of harsh chemicals. The wick is actually a piece of wood! It’s made of an organic native cherry wood and it crackles when it's lit (like having a mini fireplace)! They are vegan and non-toxic and guaranteed to brighten your day!

My future goal is to partner with small local vendors and businesses to open up a storefront! I want to be able to have my own creative space where I can find inspiration, host workshops and events, meet one-on-one with customers, collaborate, and build my business. I am excited to work with Marketspace Vendor Events, meet new faces and expand my hand-poured candle business all over New Jersey!

Brighter Days will be these upcoming events!March 31, 2018 - Crafts and Drafts at Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington, NJApril 29, 2018 - Crafts and Drafts at River Horse Brewing Company in Ewing, NJMay 19 & 20, 2018 - The Marketspace at Summit in Summit, NJJune 16, 2018 - Makers in the Vines Festival at Balic Winery in Mays Landing, NJ

The coolest part about this business is that I get to meet so many talented, local craft artisans. Several months ago, I connected with Chris LeLong of Oak Lane Woodworks. His wood-turned pens caught my attention and my proposal of selling his pens while drinking beer must have caught his. We met at River Horse Brewing Company Crafts and Drafts for the first time where I was unable to place a name to his face. His lovely wife, Becky, read into my confusion and was quick to help a sister out. “He’s Chris. Oak Lane Woodworks,” she yelled over as they unloaded their wares before the rain hit. My first few interactions with the LeLongs, and working together since, have been easy. They are truly fun, honest, and kind-hearted people. The type you feel GOOD about supporting as you buy their pens, beer caddies, and sweet dog leash hangers.

You can imagine my surprise, then, when I opened my door last Saturday morning to a package bearing a logo I’ve come to know well. Delivery from Oak Lane Woodworks. Inside were two incredibly gorgeous and thoughtful pens, one a marbled wine color and the other marbled teal (some of my favorite colors). The pens are intentionally different, his and hers style. The wine-colored pen has gold accents complimenting most of my day-to-day accessories while the teal pen has gunmetal gray accents and a stylus component. Both were neatly packaged in their own velvet drawstring bags and came with a note card describing the pen, ink replacements, and how to swap out the stylus tip for a conventional one (included, because who doesn’t like options?)

As if the aesthetics of these pens weren’t enough, they write beautifully. I say this with all honesty - I have never written with a smoother pen!

What the LeLongs don’t know is that their gift reminds me so much of my mother. She passed away when I was 17, but one of my most vivid memories of her is the gold pencil necklace she always wore. It always looked so elegant to me. “My mom has her own GOLD pencil!” I thought to myself growing up. As I work fervently at my desk adding to Marketspace’s craft event calendar for 2018, I feel a little fancy, like my mom, with my own gold accent pen!

Thank you, Chris and Becky! Your gift is priceless and I can assure any buyer it is a very special one to receive.

Hello! I can't wait to meet everyone! I am Dawn from Jersey Girl Graphix. I reside in Howell with my husband and two teenage boys that are the loves of my life. Now that the boys are older I have been able to devote some of my mom time to creating time! I love decorating and crafting and over the past 20 years have often made gifts for friends and family. The items I have gifted have been such a hit that many suggested I sell them, well, here we are!! I sell mostly via word of mouth, Facebook and Etsy, but am jumping into the world of events with both feet. I do enjoy my small little micro corner of the internet, but do love the live human interaction as well. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment seeing my creations in my clients’ homes. Making some money doing something I love is just a bonus!

My signature item is my Scrabble tile wall art. Many are created using the family names. Each 5”x5” tile is hand distressed and stained and features a black letter with the letter score, just like in the game! These make amazing gifts and such a eye catching statement on a wall. Every item I create is unique and no two will ever be alike. Many of my art pieces are recycled wood, hand distressed and lettered making each special. I can personalize just about anything and love custom orders! I do offer some neutral items and seasonal décor at shows for those that like instant gratification, but pride myself on also being able to create a special personalized piece with your input!

I also make awesome sparkly tumblers that make great teacher gifts for the holidays. They are always a great hit and a super value to make someone smile! I am super thrilled to partner with Marketspace Vendor Events, especially at Crafts and Drafts at Beach Haus Brewery on November 11th. I look forward to making your shopping experience a unique one. Tell your friends, bring your neighbors! Please take a look at my Facebook page and if you see something you like let me know! The photos above are a tiny peek into what I make. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me.

Hi, I'm Torrance Gunther. A wife, mom, artist and vintage peddler. I adore curating my vintage collection with only top notch gorgeous items for your one of a kind home. I think my love of vintage was ingrained in me at a young age, without me even knowing it. I am the youngest of three sisters, so… hello hand-me-downs! There was very little that I got that was brand new. Maybe that was partly my place in line as a sibling, maybe it was my family’s financial situation, but it taught me that secondhand ISN’T a bad thing! Now secondhand, to me, means a treasure that you can’t find at a big box store, a style you can truly make your own - not exactly what everyone else has, and a little piece of history you are now the keeper of.

Thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales all call my name every weekend. They are my happy place, where I get to hunt for what appeals to me. I have an eye for mid-century. I remember being a kid watching I Love Lucy, Bewitched, and The Brady Bunch reruns, wishing I could have lived back then!! Little did I know my brain was taking note of all the beautiful trinkets, the amazing furniture and the classic style that now rings true to my brand.

I am thrilled to have had the time to start this business this year, and now to be able to share it with all of you at Marketspace Vendor Events' Crafts and Drafts at Beach Haus Brewery! I have so many fun gifts, that will sure to be a hit under the tree, with the recipient asking, “where did you ever find this?!!” There will be amazing vintage handbags and clothing, a kids section, lots of fun kitchen wares, a bin of vintage ornaments for $1 each, I even have a few pieces of furniture I reupholstered in vintage fabric. I’m a maker/artist at heart and have also designed enamel pins and patches. Basically, the Torrance Gunther table at Beach Haus will be filled with lots of gifts and fun finds, so get there early I can’t wait to meet you!

Hi all, I’m Louise, owner of Textile Trolley, currently a one woman show! My business is primarily sewing beautiful items for babies and children like bibs, blankets, aprons, tooth fairy pillows, etc., but I’m branching out into the odd gifts for adults too like beer coasters, toiletry bags, wristlets, etc. I’ve been sewing all my life (as a hobby) and 5 years ago after being made part-time at my job I decided to make a business out of it, and currently no looking back!

Everything I sell is handmade by me. I am a perfectionist to detail so everything I make is of the top most quality. I primarily sell online, direct wholesale to businesses all around the world including China and Taiwan (would you believe?), Malaysia, Switzerland, England and various states within the U.S. I do take part in a fair amount of craft shows and love getting out and meeting all my customers, many who return with new additions to their family. My biggest seller by far at craft shows are my baby bibs. For outdoor shows, I have a vast display with many different fabrics which are all really eye catching.

My goals for the future are to be able to keep on doing what I’m doing, increase sales and hire a seamstress to help with the workload. I am currently in the process of developing my own website which will enable me to break away from my Etsy shop and become more independent. I’m so excited to work with Marketspace Vendor Events and their upcoming events, such as Crafts and Drafts at Lone Eagle Brewing on November 11th. It’s a totally fresh, young, and modern way of dealing with craft shows and the fact that they are bringing craft shows to breweries, well it doesn’t get much better than that (maybe the wineries next year???). I wish them much success in the future and look forward to partaking in more of their shows.